Friday, in his usual insubstantial, punk way, Bob Casey Jr. called Santorum ‘s “Gathering Storm ” speech “pathetic,” criticizing Santorum for needlessly lecturing people as a campaign tactic. Here’s Santorum on Fox News Sunday this morning: “I’m not fear-mongering. I’m describing the reality of what we confront, and there has to be people who are willing to stand up and do that.”

Hearing his stump speech twice yesterday in southeastern PA — it’s the worldview I’ve heard from consistently for awhile now — he’s not lecturing or fearmongering. He’s putting the people’s future in their hands. Pennsylvanians can have a pretty much literal empty suit who is in the Senate just for the sake of being in the Senate or they can have a guy who has proven himself a leader, who understands what’s at stake and considers the Senate a service — one of great personal sacrifice, but sacrifice that is important especially considering what an important time it is in our history.